How much does it cost to travel to Tampa?
You should plan to spend around $179 per day on your vacation in Tampa. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $53 on meals
- $69 on local transportation
- $169 on hotels
A one week trip to Tampa for two people costs, on average, $2,509. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Tampa has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Tampa expensive to visit?
Prices in Tampa are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Tampa is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Columbia River Gorge or Portland.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Tampa Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Tampa?
The average Tampa trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Tampa travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation1(Double Occupancy) | $169 |
| Local Transportation1 | $69 |
| Food2 | $53 |
| Entertainment1 | $20 |
| Alcohol2 | $13 -38 |
Accommodation Budget in Tampa
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Tampa is $85. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Tampa is $169. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Accommodation1Hotel or hostel for one person
See AlsoFort Lauderdale Sleeping in Car AttorneyTop 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Tampa, FL | FlyhomesWorst Neighborhoods in Tampa: Here's What You Need to KnowStudy: $94K salary needed to live comfortably in Tampa Bay$85
Accommodation1Typical double-occupancy room
$169
Hotel Prices in Tampa
Looking for a hotel in Tampa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Find the best hotel for your travel style.
Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Tampa based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $130. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.
Recommended Properties
Transportation Budget in Tampa
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The cost of a taxi ride in Tampa is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $69 per person, per day, on local transportation in Tampa.
Transportation1Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$69
Recommended Services
Flights to Tampa
How much does it cost to go to Tampa? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
Rental Cars in Tampa
The price of renting a car in Tampa will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Tampa
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
While meal prices in Tampa can vary, the average cost of food in Tampa is $53 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Tampa should cost around $21 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Tampa is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food2Meals for one day
$53
Recommended
Entertainment Budget in Tampa
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
Entertainment and activities in Tampa typically cost an average of $20 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment1Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$20
Recommended Activities
Alcohol Budget in Tampa
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average person spends about $26 on alcoholic beverages in Tampa per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcohol2Drinks for one day
$26
Recommended
Last Updated: Jan 5, 2024
Tampa on a Budget
Tampa, Florida
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
The climate in Tampa is humid subtropical. The winters are mild but there are occasionally cold spells that bring night time temperatures down near freezing. Although it is very rare, snow has fallen in Tampa. Spring and Fall are both warm and humid and summer can become quite hot. Thunderstorms are also frequent during the summer months.
Sights
There are some popular destinations in Tampa which attract tourists from around Florida and elsewhere. In particular, the Busch Gardens theme park is a favorite of adults and children alike. Also of interest is the Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium. There are some museums around town like the Tampa Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and Industry. Tampa is also home to the University of South Florida. It is also worth exploring Ybor City. This is a historic, multi-ethnic area that is located northeast of the city's downtown. There are many nightclubs, bars, and shops that appeal to people who are looking for nightlife activities. During the day you can explore the historic district that was originally home to many Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants. There were many cigar factories and the area is credited with bringing the Cuban sandwich to the United States.
Neighborhoods
The city is split into five different districts that spread out from the downtown area. West Tampa is west of the downtown area, just across the Hillsborough River. South Residential is a predominantly residential area that goes south on the Interbay Peninsula. Historic Ybor City is just northeast of downtown and blends with the area. East Tampa is north of Ybor City and North Tampa is the area north of Busch Boulevard.
The more central Tampa area has six different neighborhoods which include Hyde Park, Seminole Heights, Historic West Tampa, Hampton Terrace, Tampa Heights and Ybor City.
Activities
Activities in Tampa include taking walking tours, going fishing on the bay, taking a cruise of the bay, or attending one of the many festivals in town.
Many people choose to attend a sporting event in Tampa. Popular teams include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football), the Tampa Bay Lightning (hockey), and the Tampa Bay Rays (baseball).
If you're interested in doing some shopping while you're in town then your best options are the SoHo District, which has upscale shopping near downtown, Palma Ceia south of Hyde Park, the Big Top Flea Market, and Channelside near the cruise ship terminals. Other malls in the area are the International Plaza Mall, Westshore Plaza Mall, University Mall, and Citrus Park Town Center.
Golf is also a popular activity around town. There are many golf courses including Ace Golf/Pebble Creek Golf Club, Babe Zaharias Golf Course, Bloomingdale Golfers Club, and Emerald Greens Golf Resort and Country Club.
Food and Dining
There are many budget restaurants and cafes around Tampa, many of which have an international flare. You'll find plenty of Mexican options and there are many taco stands around town. There are also a variety of great Cuban restaurants, as well as pizza, sandwiches and hotdogs. If you're looking for something a little nicer, there are some great seafood restaurants that serve up a delicious and reasonably priced meal. Overall, Tampa proves to be a very budget conscious destination for travelers.
Transportation
While there is a bus system and a streetcar in Tampa, you really need to have a car to travel any significant distance. Like most mid-sized American cities, the public transportation system is lacking and the buses are unreliable and do not thoroughly cover the city. There are three types of routes available: Local, Commuter Express, and Trollies. Local routes cover short distances with frequent stops. Commuter Express lines go long distances into the suburbs. Trolley routes are operated with rubber-wheel trolleys, which are diesel buses designed to look like streetcars. They run through the Central Business District north and south through downtown to the northern end of Harbor Island.
The streetcar, while quaint, only covers a short distance from Whiting and Franklin Streets to Centennial Park. There are eleven stops along the line and it passes by many shops, restaurants and sights.
Related:
Looking for a party hostel in Hawaii or Miami? Traveling alone to LA or New Orleans? Want a budget hostel in NYC?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
